In April 2025, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) proposed a Mars mission concept, which includes computing for ensuring astronauts' and transported goods' survival.
According to this project, to ensure the safety of the crew, a payload of 62.8 tons will be required, which presents serious technical challenges for China's current capabilities in space launch.
This mission could be an important step in the global development of Mars development plans, especially in the context of competition with the United States, where Elon Musk is actively developing his Starship system for Mars flights.
Mission requirements: 62.8 tons of payload
To successfully complete a manned mission to Mars, it is necessary to deliver 62.8 tons of payload to low Mars orbit.
This mass includes everything needed for astronauts' life support: life-support systems (oxygen, water, food), scientific equipment, residential modules, communication systems, and fuel for returning to Earth.
Additionally, part of the cargo consists of materials for growing on the Martian surface, and may produce fuel on-site.
However, the current capability of China's heavy Long March-9 rocket does not allow delivering this cargo in one go.
In low Mars orbit, the Long March-9 can only carry 10 tons of payload. To complete the mission, six launches would be required.
This means that China should develop a complex orbital assembly system, similar to that of a space station.
New approach: Orbital transfer system
To solve this problem, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CNSA) suggests using a new space transfer system that can transport up to 65 tons of payload to low Mars orbit in one go. The system involves three consistent launches:
- First launch: The Long March-9B rocket will display a transfer module as well as a refueling station to be used for refueling in orbit.
- Second launch: Delivering the payload, including the residential module, scientific equipment, and life support systems.
- Third launch: Providing additional fuel to ensure the flight to Mars, landing, and return to Earth.
This plan allows you to minimize the number of launches (from six to three) and improve the efficiency of the mission.
However, high precision is needed when connecting and refueling in orbit, which is a technically challenging task. China already has experience in orbital docking.
Alternative approach: Starship model with orbital refueling
To compare, CNSA gave an example of SpaceX's Starship system, which also uses orbital refueling.
Starship consists of two stages - Super Heavy (super-heavy booster) and Starship (actually the spacecraft), which can deliver 65 tons of payload to low Mars orbit.
However, this requires six launches:
- One launch directly sends the Starship with the payload.
- Additional five launches are used to send fuel tankers to refuel before sending to Mars.
SpaceX has already successfully tested orbital refueling in 2024, making this plan feasible.
However, for China, since the Long March-9 is still under development, this method remains theoretical.
The first flight of the Long March-9 is planned for 2030, and its full operational capability (140 tons in low Earth orbit) will be achieved by 2033.
Technical solutions
Orbital components: The assembly of spacecraft in low Mars orbit requires high accuracy and reliability. China plans to use robotic manipulators, similar to those used on the Tiangong station, but it will be more difficult in the conditions of Mars orbit due to the greater distance and the delay (up to 24 minutes each way).
- Refueling: Pumping cryogenic fuel (liquid methane and oxygen) under microgravity is another challenging task. China is developing storage and fuel pumping technology to minimize losses due to evaporation.
- Radiation protection: During the flight to Mars (about 6-9 months), astronauts will be exposed to cosmic radiation. To protect the astronauts, the plan includes water screens (water effectively absorbs radiation) and magnetic fields created on board.
- Descent and return: Landing on Mars requires accurate calculations, as Mars' atmosphere is too thin to effectively decelerate via aerobraking but is thick enough to cause heating.
- To return, China considers using fuel on Mars (in-situ resource utilization, ISRU), as SpaceX indeed uses local resources to create methane and oxygen.
The concept of a Chinese manned mission to Mars demonstrates the country's ambition in space exploration.
To deliver 62.8 tons of payload, it will require either using orbital components or launching one Long March-9 with a new orbital transfer system.
Both methods require solving complex technical problems, such as refueling and radiation protection.
The success of this mission could not only enhance China's status in space, but also inspire the creation of technologies that help solve global human problems.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7499269614942093850/
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